AI’s Environmental Equation: Balancing Innovation with Sustainability

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Climate/Computer Science/ Mathematics, 2024–25

Liaison(s): Jose Pablo Ortiz-Partida
Advisor(s): Lynn Kirabo
Students(s): Taylor Backer (TL-F), Lucie Batista (TL-S), Sarah An, Emilynne Newsom, Trevor Shepherd

Aligned with the mission of the Union of Concerned Scientists—a nonprofit that puts independent science into action and advocates for a healthy, safe, and just future—this project calls for an examination of water and energy usage patterns in artificial intelligence (AI) systems through a comprehensive literature review of data center operations. The research analyzes current reporting practices regarding AI’s environmental impact and evaluates resource consumption projections. As a complement to the literature review, the Clinic team developed an interactive informational website that defines key metrics and provides context around AI infrastructure’s environmental footprint.